What does a US shutdown mean? Seven things you should know

Funding for federal agencies will run out on 30 September, a crisis fueled by ideological divisions among House Republicans

The US stands just days from a full government shutdown amid political deadlock over demands from rightwing congressional Republicans for deep public spending cuts.

Fuelled by bitter ideological divisions among the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, funding for federal agencies will run out at midnight on 30 September unless - against widespread expectation - Congress votes to pass a stopgap measure to extend government funding.